Interlocking switch and signal mechanism.



G. H. PAINE.

INTBBLOGKING SWITGH AND SIGNAL HBGHANISM.

APPLIOATIOK FILED-IEB. 21, 1908.

Patented Sept 15,1908.

WMe/.saco

@www/5a@ A nu nous!! .-ntPs m., Uluunml. l

G. H. PAINE. INTBBLoo-KING swTrGH AND SIGNAL mammal.

v nrmoumn rum rms.21,1eos. 898,9 18. Patented sept 15, 190s. s suma-amm n.

A G. H. PAINE. IHTERLOGKING SWITCH AND SIGNAL MIEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED IBB. 21, 1908.

Patented Sept/15,1908.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3` nl: n.11 n-nnus al.. mau-cnn. l a

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE IIEBARD PAINE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASIGOR TO CONTINENTAL SIGNAL COM- PAhY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

INTERLOCKING SWITCH AND SIGNAL INEECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 15, 1908.

Ay lication filed February 21, 1908. Serial No. 417,147.

In certain types of interlocking switch and signal mechanism, a series oi operating levers having operative connection with the switches and signals, acts through the medium of rocking links to actuate locking bars, by' means of which the interlocking of the levers and connections is effected.

My invention relates to mechanism of this type, and has reference more particularly to the form, construction and arrangement of the means b v which motion is imparted from the rocking links to the locking bars, the aim of the invention being to adapt the locking bars, constituting the locking bed, to be actuated by the rocking links, whether the bed is arranged in a vertical or in a horizontal plane, and this without change in the form or construction of the locking mechanism; or the means by which motion is imparted to the locking bars.

Vith this aim in view, my invention consists in combining with a series of endwise movable locking bars, a corresponding series of transversely arranged endwise movable actuating bars operatively connected with the locking bars in such manner that the movement of the actuating bars endwise will shift the locking bars endwise, and suitable connections between the actuating bars and the ends of the rocking links; whereby the rocking motion of the links in a direction transversclv of the longitudinal axes of the actuating bars, will act to shift said bars endwise and cause them to impart an endwise movementfbut in a relatively transverse direction, to the locking bars.

' The locking bars may be arranged side by side in a horizontal plane, thus constituting what may be termed a horizontal locking bed; or they may be arranged one above the other in a vertical plane, constituting what may be termed a vertical locking bed. When arranged in a horizontal plane, the. actuating bars are also arranged horizontally, and their ends are so connected with the ends of the actuating links that the latter in their vertical movements, serve to shift the actuating bars horizontally. ranged vertically, the locking bars will extend one above the other and be situated beneath the opposite end of the rocking links, and the actuating bars will be connected with the. rear ends oi the links, with the result that the vertical shifting of the links will impart directly to the actuating bars a corresponding shifting mot-ion, which will, by reason of the connection of the actuating bars with the locking bars, cause the same to shift endwise, but in a relatively transverse direction.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a group ot operating levers and their rocking links and locking bed, with the latter arranged in a horizontal plane, the levers heilig shown in their normal position. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the operating levers in their intermediate. positions. Fig. 3 is a similar view with the operating levers in their reversed positions. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the group of operating levers and the parts operated thereby. Fig. 5 is a perspective view in the nature of a diagram showing the locking bars, the actuating bars, a rocking link and its operating lever, with the locking bars arranged in a horizontal )lane. Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the locking bars or bed arranged in a vertical. plane. In the accompanying drawings 1 represents a suitable stand or framing, consisting as usual of' the uprights 2, supporting at their upper ends the horizont-al segments 3,

between which the operating levers 4 extendV and have their lower ends mounted on a horizontal axis 5, on a shaft sustained in suitable bearings in the base of the framing.

6 represents a series of rocking links, one for each level', which links are pivotcd on a horizontal transverse axis to the respective segments, so that when rocked on these axes the opposite ends of the links will be shifted vertically. These links are each formed as usual with a longitudinal slot 6a, engaged by a block 6b, projecting laterally from a vertically movable slide or stud 6, carried by a latch rod 6d, movable vertically in guides on the operating lever, and adapted to be actuated by a handle 6e, arranged adjacentthe main handle of the lever, so that the opera tor by eras )ing the main handle may actuate the Iate i handle and thereby move the block vertically and in turn shift the rocking link \\'ith the locking bed arvertically tov erform what is known as the preliminar f locking, this movement of the block in the rocking link discngaginfT the lcverfrom the segment plate so that the ever is free to be moved rearwardly, thereby causing the rocking link to shift further on its horizontal axis to complete its movement.

vThese parts may be of any appropriate or the usual and customary construction, as in themselves they form no part of the present invention.

In carrying my invention mto effect, the foi-ward ends of the rocking links are cach formed with an upright slot A, extending upwardly and forwardly, in which slots eX- tend horizontal pins B on the forward ends of aV series of horizontally arranged actuating bars C, situated side by side parallel to cach other in line with the respective rocking links, and mounted to slide back and forth in guides sustained on a suitable bed or framin g 7 at the rear of the stand 1. As a result ci' this construction, when the rocking links are rocked on their axes and their ends moved vertically, the inclined walls of the slot engaging the horizontal pins on the actuating bars will 4force the said bars endwise forwardly.

Extending horizontally side by side above the actuating bars and in a direction transversely thereof, is a series of endwise movable locking bars D, mounted to slide in suitable bearings in the bed frame 7, and each formed with a depending piu E engaging in an oblique slot F in the upper face 'of a block G fixed to the respective actuating bars, by which means the endwise movement of said actuating bars will impart an endwise movement to the locking bars, but in a relatively transverse direction, by which motion of the locking bars, the interlocking of the )arts is effected through the medium of the ocking dogs H on the locking bars, and the crosslocks I coperating with said locking dogs.

It will be observed from the construction described, that the actuating bars are moved by the rocking links in a direction at right angles, or substantially so, to the movements of the links, the vertical movement of thelinks causing the actuating bars t-o be moved horizontally, and that thehorizontal movement of the actuating bars causes the locking bars to move in a corresponding plane, but at right angles. It is this Vconstruction and action of the parts which enables me to effect the operation of the parts by the rocking links, when the locking bed is arranged in a A vertical plane, and this without changing the form of the connecting means by which the endwise movement of the actuating bars imparts a corresponding movement to the lockine' bars. This is shown in Fig. 6where it wl be seen that the locking bars are arrangedv one above the other, constituting a vertical locking bed, which is situated beneath the rear ends of the rocking links. The connection between the rear ends of the rocking links and the actuating bars instead of being such as to cause the actuating bars to be moved in a plane at right angles to the move.- ment of the links, as was described in the horizontal arrangement of the locking bed, is, by reason of the changed conditions when the bed is arranged vertically, a direct connection between the parts. These connections I have shown in the form of rods K pivotally connected at their lower ends with the upper ends of the vertically arranged actuating bars, and jointed at their upper ends to the rear ends of the rocking links, the result being that when the links are rocked by the actuation of the operating levers, the actuating bars will be shifted vertically endwise, and will-impart to the locking bars endwisc movements to perform their interlockinv' functions.

believe myself to be the first to provide such. a connection between the rocking links and the actuating bars that a movement of the links in one direction will cause the actuating bars to move endwise at right angles to the movement of the links, whereby I am enabled to operate the locking bed when arranged either in a vertical or horizontal plane, and this without any change in the orm of the connections between the actuating bars and the locking bars.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In an interlocking switch and signal mechanism, the combination of rocking liriks, operating levers therefor, actuating bars movable endwise transversely with reference to the movements of the links, means connecting the ends of the actuating bars directly with the ends of the rocking links to cause the actuating bars to move endwise relatively to the movement of the links, and locking bars having operative connections with the actuating bars.

2. In an interlocking switch and signal mechanism, the combination of rocking links movable vertically at opposite ends, operating levers for actuating said bars, a locking bed arranged horizontally, horizontally arranged endwise-movable actuating bars adapted to operate the locking bed, and means connecting the ends of the actuating bars directly with the ends of the rocking links, said means acting to cause the vertical motion of the links to shift the actuating bars endwise.

3. In an interlocking switch and signal mechanism, the combination of operating levers, rocking links operated thereby and formed in their ends with slots extending in the direction of movement of the links, actuating bars movable transversely with referx t t i l ence tothe movements of the links and engaging in said slots, and locking bars operatively connected with the actuating bars.

4. In an interlocking switch and signal mechanism, the combination with horizontally arranged vertically rocking links formed in their forward ends with oblique slots, of operating levers for said links, horizontally arranged actuating bars engaging at their ends in said slots; whereinv the rocking movements of the links will shift the actuating hars endwise, and locking hars arranged horizontallv and operatively connected with the actuating bars.

.3. ln an interlocking switch and signal mechanism, the combination of horizontally arranged vertically rocking links adapted at their opposite ends by their vertical movements to operate actuating bars, operating levers-for said links, endwise movable locking bars, and endwise movable actuating bars operatively connected with the locking bars, said actuating bars ada ted when connected respectively with the ront or rear ends of the links in horizontal or vertica l planes respectively, to be shifted endwise by the rocking movements of the links, and to there-by shift the locking bars end- Wise.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE HEBARD PAINE.

Vit-nesses f ERNEST D. CoNDlT, M. W. CLEPHANE. 

